The BGN News Archive

September 10, 2018

State of the Union
Photo: Blowfish

A lot of the Boston rock community would have been at Fenway Park on
Tuesday for Pearl Jam. We, however, were where we usually end up on
Tuesday – O’Brien’s. What can we
say? They bring the early week punk.

State of the Union was playing and we are hot on them
now. We mistimed the set and only saw the last few songs. We were sure
they would be on second not first. Despite there being very few people
in the club the band was in full blown rock out mode. They were sweating
like crazy and digging hard into their instruments. These are the moments
that make us marvel. Does the band get discouraged with the small turnout?
No, they give it all. There is a lesson there in how to live your life.
They ended with the Ramones “Beat on the Brat”. They're
right on the verge of releasing their next album. We talk about that
below.

Gasko
Photo: Blowfish

Gasko has members that have been on the scene since
the 90’s. They seemed to take a lot from the pre-seventies hard
rock. The vocals sounded a lot like Pop Gun to us. The songs shaped
up from the chord progressions. Not bad at all. Their
Bandcamp page songs relate to what we heard live.

Evil Engines
Photo: Blowfish

Evil Engines are from Mississippi. There's some connection
to the Gizmos and Eddie Flowers but
to tell you what it is would mean we could understand Kenne
Highland’s verbally obscure explanation. In any case,
Kenne was there and he will explain in his column this week. Again with
not many people there they put all their energy into the set.

They were nice and punky. The guitar leads were often single line riffs
that were doubled up with the two guitarists. That gave them a thick
texture and they stood out giving the songs an extra feature to catch
your ear as they repeated. We wished we knew their material beforehand
because the songs seemed worth getting the lyrics. They did have that
southern influence that seeped into the material and made it more interesting
for us.

They covered “I Think of Demons” by Roky and that was worth
going out for right there. We have it on vid here "I
Think of Demons" but it’s out of focus (damn), but still worth
hearing.

They also covered “Need To Know” by Tom Petty, the video
is above. They sped it up and played it with power chords to make it
work in a punk way. Beyond any single song the overall set was a rush
of rock and felt so good on a Tuesday night. Somehow you never think
anything this good will come early in the week but it does and it did.
We talked to them before and after. They are a great bunch of guys.
We admire them and the bands like them that travel up to 12 hours a
day to get to the next show for weeks in a row.

Evil Engines
Photo: Blowfish

There was way too much to choose from on Saturday. The easy thing was
listening to Color Killer on Crash Course for
the Ravers at 1pm. Those kids are amazing and also hard working.
They have gigs everywhere.

The early show at the Midway was worth going to with Lucky
United and M.O.T.O but then there was a Jamaica
Plain Music Fest with Shelia Divine, Sidewalk
Driver and Andy California at Pinebank Field.
At the same time Watts was playing a Riverfest in Somerville.
(We heard later they did a 70 minute set.) At night Muck and
the Mires were at the Plough and Stars for a record release,
the Knock Ups at Sally O’Brien’s and the
Queers were playing on a boat.

We shot for the night time Midway show. The main thrust
was that it was Richard Mirsky’s CD release show.
There was a good crowd at the club.

Chris Brokaw
Photo: Blowfish

Chris Brokaw opened the show in a trio format. Well
known as a Codeine
and Come member his career is wide ranging and most impressive.
There was much more instrumental work than singing. Overall the music
was it’s own genre. Everything had a brooding mood that is Chris
doing his thing. He is constantly picking the chords out arpeggio style
with the low note moving around to give a sense of shifting drama. That’s
not done much at all these days.

The tempos were on the slow side with just a few rocky upbeat numbers.
At one point Chris changed his guitar. That’s a normal thing you
see. What was unusual was that the bass player changed his too. It seemed
the same to us but there must be a reason for that.

Rich Mirsky
Photo: Blowfish

Everyone got upfront and gave full attention to Rich Mirsky.
He played most of the songs from his new CD called Creepy Older
Guy. The song "Creepy Older Guy" was a funny self-deprecating
look at himself. It came across pitch perfect. You identified with him
and the situation. He really captured something there. It came across
as a sort of theme song for him.

He also played “Melissa” from the CD. We have that on our
Top
Ten Songs. The video is above. It captured a Lou Reed feeling with
that Sweet Jane chord playing as it told the story of an office co-worker
crush. The solo by Mike Powers was a stunner. He was
on an amplified acoustic with some effects on the tone. It was a searing
single line solo with masterful articulation. Mike Powers
was in the Third Rail line up in 1980-83. Richard
Nolan always had the best musicians and Mirsky has the same
thing going on, the whole band was sharp.

Rich sings and plays with a calm born from years of
performing. His songs covered some different genres. He comes across
as a singer-songwriter in this configuration rather than just a member
of a band. Many were there for the first two bands it seemed because
the club lost some people after Rich’s set but they missed out
on two more great bands.

Justine and the Unclean
Photo: Blowfish

Justine and Unclean were tight and punchy with their
pop punk. The set was half old songs and half new. They are all three
minute punk gems. To us they came across as if they were an established
international act that had a few records out and you are waiting to
hear your favorites. They seemed too good to be just a local band with
only one release.

They have that band dynamic where you feel the individual identities
on stage: Jim the crazy, stick twirling drummer, Janet
the steady, amiable bass player, Charles the
genius guitar nerd and Justine the leader. It’s
all ready for Sixteen and Hit Parader Magazine. There
was something in the character of the singing when Justine and Janet
sang together that evoked the punk songs from the first punk era. It’s
all ice cream too us.

Stop Calling Me Frank
Photo: Blowfish

Stop Calling Me Frank may be the best end of the night
band ever, as they were on Saturday. They had a let’s-have-fun
ethic and a few drinking songs that drove you into party land. Once
you've heard this band you never forget them. They don’t sound
like almost any other band out there now. They have the sax heavy sound
that harkens back to the origins of rock. They played their old material
and some new songs. They opened with "Every Time I See Her"
with it’s irresistible sax hook.

Our current fave is “Dash to the Haberdashery” an almost
vaudevillian sounding effort that was played with a driving urgency
that indeed made you want to dash… to somewhere. They don’t
play ballads. Romantically it’s like; "My Baby Is An Ax-murderer
From The State of Wisconsin". The only time they got serious was
with the new song “Gimme Life” which is uplifting. They
got an encore, and it was 1:20am at that point, and ended up with a
driving rocker.

More band photos below the show listings

We talked about the Rat Beach Party last week but John Keegan was
at more of the show. He has his review and a cool slide show of photos
on his page. Click photo below for full story.

And in other news ....

Records Collecting Dust II a film which has
some local luminaries in it is at the Regent in Arlington this Friday
Sept 14. They'll have the FU’s and Antibodies
playing live afterwards.

Also at the Regent from Sept 19 to 23 the new Public Image Ltd film
The Image is Rotten. Sept 26 to 28 it’s
more rock on film with the showing of Bad Reputation
which is all about Joan Jett. They claim, “She will kick your
ass, and you'll love her all the more for it.” So there’s
your September film schedule right there. Check their
site for more info.

Petty Morals got a half page color photo in the Herald
on Friday. That’s a reminder to tell you of their two big shows.
One at the Peabody Essex Museum on Sept
14 and the Bust Out Boston Music Fesival at the Burren on Sept
19-23

The world is falling apart but we don’t care because the
Shiny Beasts album is now available. It’s up
on Bandcamp. We heard most of these songs live. They are short and
punky. Do what we do, imagine Henry shaking his maracas
as you listen to songs like “Feral Cat” and "Draggin’
You Down”. And it would be a better world if everyone listened
to what Shiny Beasts tell you to do: “Pick Up Your Trash”.

Chet’s Last Call is going be shown at
the Cape Ann Cinema on Oct 18. FB
page here. It’s also at the Regent on Oct 21. After the film
there will be sets by Randy Black and The Heathcroppers, The
Dogmatics, Bim Skala Bim and TBA Allstars. More
info here. We've seen the film and it is supurb. It manages to tell
the story of Chet, the club, the bands and the scene in the 80’s.
We have an early
review of it here

Xanna Don't is coming back to Boston to play at Thunder
Road on Tuesday Sept 18.

It’s eight months from now but Cal Cali already
has a show for May 11, 2019. Originally scheduled for Club Bohemia it’s
a Rosebud reunion/appreciation show with Lyres, Glider, Classic
Ruins and Screw Cart. It's now at Koto in
Salem. We love that Screw Cart is in the mix and the Classic Ruins have
played so long in so many venues that they could be booked at any reunion
show for any club in existence since 1977. FB
page

State of the Union are releasing a new CD called Panaflex
Blue. We were primed for this with the live shows we've
seen recently where they played many of the new songs. “Ring Me
Up” sounds like a Neighborhoods song from the “Prettiest
Girl” era. Can things get any better than that? The album was
recorded at Wooly Mammoth Sound and David Minehan did play on the track.
“Bombs in Boston” is like a cross between the Hoods and
Stiff Little Fingers. At their last Midway show they played "Rain"
and pronounced this should be their single. It is indeed single material!!

State of the Union remind us of the Clash because
of the character of the vocals and the way they ride on the punk guitar
bed below. It also reminds us of a lot of seventies punk albums that
we love to death to this day. This Saturday Sept 14
they will be live on A Crash Course for the Ravers with
Brian Young and next Saturday Sept 28
they have their record release show at The Midway with
The Gala, Gene Dante & TFS and The Hi End.

September 11 (Tuesday) Killing
Joke on their 40th Anniversary Tour at the Paradise FB
page

September 11 (Tuesday) Cheetah
Chrome's new "Dead Boys", The
Ghost Wolves, Midnight Creeps, The Worried at Alchemy in Provi
RI. The Midnight Creeps!!! so glad they are back!!!

September 12 (Wednesday) Cheetah
Chrome's new "Dead Boys", The Ghost Wolves
- added to the bill- The Nervous Eaters and the reformed
Red Invasion!! at Sonia. This is one of only two shows
Red Invasion will be doing. FB
page

September 13 (Thursday) MC50
presents Kick Out The Jams - The 50th Anniversary Tour - whoa!!
This is Wayne Kramer celebrating the 50th Anniversary
of the MC5...with special guests!! At the Paradise. FB
page

September 13 (Thursday) Randy
Black & The Heathcroppers and The Emily Grogan band
are at Tavern at the End of the World

September 13 (Thursday) Test
Meat, Haunted Horses (NYC) at The Plough and Stars

September 13 (Thursday) Fall-Fest
5 Day 1: featuring The Avengers! also on the bill -
Silver Screams, Boot Rot, City Problems and a bunch
more bands. It’s at Alchemy. Music starts at 8PM Here's the FB
page

September 13 (Thursday) Hudson
Falcons, Genuine Rust, Sonic Libido and more TBA at This is
an ALL AGES Matinee! at Thirsty First: Tavern & Grill, Lowell.

September 14 (Friday) Ten
Dollar Mistake, Cold Expectations, The Melatonins at the Tavern
at the End of the World

September 14 (Friday) Records
Collecting Dust II Film Premiere at Regent Theatre in
Arlington: it "focuses on the East Coast cities of Boston, New
York and Washington DC, and includes in depth interviews with twenty
eight highly influential people from the 1980’s hardcore punk
rock music scene." Including- Bob Cenci (jerry's
kids) and John Sox (The FU's) After the film there
will be sets by The FU's and Antibodies. FB
page

September 15 (Saturday) State of the Union will be on
Brian Young's A Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO 91.5 1-4PM

September 15 (Saturday) The
Hideout, In The Meantime, DNZL at O'Brien's

September 16 (Sunday) Black
Market Flea by Boston Hassle & Ignore Rock n Roll Heroes
- we
went in June and it is awesome!!Lots of great vendors. Check it
out folks!! 12-6PM FB
page for info

September 16 (Sunday) LOCAL
Focus: a celebration and sale of boston rock photography And
Bob Colby's Goodbye Party and Rock Extravaganza, 20+
of Boston's music photographers, spanning four decades of Boston music
photography, will each display two prints in the Ballroom at ONCE. 2pm
- 10pm FB
event page

And further out we have...

September 18 (Tuesday) Ian Moore with his full band PLUS
Xanna Don’t & The Wanted at Thunder Road

September 20 (Thursday) Boston
Emissions is back. They're doing early shows at Hennessy’s
upstairs, across from City Hall.
Doors at 7:30. Music starts at 8:30. Food served all night. This night
they have Baabes, Set Fire, 123 Astronaut. Check out
the FB
page for directions etc.

September 21 (Friday) Thalia
Zedek Band album release party with special guests Sleepyhead
at The Midway

September 21 (Friday) Bust Out
Boston Music Festival at The Burren Day Three- VQnC, Petty Morals,
Stars Like Ours

September 21 (Friday) Punk Night
with Crimespree, The Straight Eights, Worm, The Woods
at Pinz - Kingston FB page for info and direction

September 22 (Saturday) The
Knock Ups, Titans of Industry, Sweetcreem, MIDI Myers at The
Midway

October 18 (Thursday)Sidewalk
Driver, Watts, Justine and the Unclean at Thunder Road

October 19 (Friday) Halloween Show
with Kid Gulliver, The Knock-Ups, Ski Bunny, Sapling
will include Special Halloween covers and a full cover set with The
Knock-Ups doing Siouxsie and the Banshees. At jeanie Johnston Pub in
JP

October 20 (Saturday) Nervous
Eaters, Indonesian Junk, Duck & Cover at the Middle East
Up

October 20 (Saturday) Stop
Calling Me Frank, Crunchtime, The Jiblantos and The Black Souls
at The Midway for a 4PM matinee.

October 27 (Saturday) Lyres,
GLiDER, the modifierS at The Middle East Up- Early show doors
at 6:30PM

October 27 (Saturday) The
Descendents w/ Teenage Bottlerocket at The
Palladium in Worcester FB
page for tix etc

October 29 & 30 (Mon & Weds) Now
here's how to do Halloween!! At Symphony Hall this Halloween season
when Keith Lockhart and members of the Boston Pops visit The Bates Motel
and perform the original score of the Alfred Hitchcock film, "Psycho",
in sync with the film on the big screen. One of the greatest suspenseful
thrillers of all time, this cinematic masterpiece comes alive with Bernard
Herrmann's spine-tingling score performed live. The unforgettable and
disturbing slashing chords played during the now famous shower scene
are just as terrifying now as they were to first-time audiences in 1960.

November 4 (Sunday) Book release
party for Poetry for the Neon Apocalypse by local Punk Poet
Jake Tringali with Mint Green, Ski Bunny, The
Sewer Buddies, Jenn Lombari, Hyber at The Midway 4-8 PM. FB
page

November 11 (Sunday) Save the date!!
Brian Coleman who has published the much talked aboutBuy Me Bostonbook will be having a slideshow
and panel discussion (including our very own Paul Blowfish Lovell, oh
yeah and David Bieber) to promote the book. It's at The Brattle Theater
- more info as it becomes available.

November 17 (Saturday) It's HIXXGIVING!!
The joyous return of the annual celebration of white trash culture and
redneck vittles. This year they'll have newcomers - Alice Highland,
New Jersey's Sex Zombies, Your hosts- HIXX
and the formidable Screw Cart. This will, no doubt,
be off the hook! The buffet will be provided by the bands. Hixx asks
that you bring non perishable food items, as always, for a local woman's
shelter.